1994 FZJ80 plow truck front suspension options

[lilevo]

Everyone,

I put a plow on my triple locked 1994 a few years ago. The weight obviously pulls the front end down. Today I noticed one of my coil springs ripping, or splitting. It hasn't broke all the way through. The shocks are due for replacement as well.

What coil springs would increase the height of the front of the truck a couple inches, or keep stock height, and also serve as a much heavier duty spring rate?

What shocks would compliment those coils?

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[MUDZLLA]

Everyone,

I put a plow on my triple locked 1994 a few years ago. The weight obviously pulls the front end down. Today I noticed one of my coil springs almost broken in half. The shocks are due for replacement as well.

What coil springs would increase the height of the front of the truck a couple inches, or keep stock height, and also serve as a much heavier duty spring rate?

What shocks would compliment those coils?

Thanks for any suggestions.

HDJ-80 Springs are thicker.

 

[lilevo]

According to parts diagram, The FZJ and HDJ have the same coils:
RH springs: 48131-6A450, 48131-6A460 48131-6A570
LH springs: 48131-6A470, 48131-6A480, 48131-6A490

The trucks with winch have different coils, assuming thicker:
RH: 48131-6A500
LH: 48131-6A510

 

[mudgudgeon]

Have a browse through here

Compiled 80 series suspension component spec thread... shocks, coils & more. - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/compiled-80-series-suspension-component-spec-thread-shocks-coils-more.1026595/

 

[lilevo]

I saw that, but got overwhelmed. A lot of those would make sense for off-roading, but couldn't really find a specific solution, or come to a decision on what exactly would work best for a massive plow.

 

[Mark W]

Without getting into the choice of an '80 for a plow rig...

Taller springs or spacers will offset the weight of the plow in terms of static rig height.

Stiffer springs will as well and will also offset the weight of the plow when the suspension is asked to work. In coil airbags will do that as well.

Nothing makes sense for "a massive plow" on an '80

About 200lbs over OEM are gonna be about the heaviest springs you will find for the front of this rig. You can get 4 and maybe 6 inch lift springs rated for this (check Slee, Dobinson and of course OME).

If I was gonna run a plow on an '80 ( I would not), a set of Dobinson 4 inch lift springs rated at 110-175 lbs over stock would be a good first step. Iron man also offers "medium" 6 inch springs rated at 0-220lbs over stock. Add a set of Airlift 1000 airbags as you install the springs and you should be able to get back to stock ride height without destroying springs again.

Your choice of shocks will before anything else be predicated on what your actual ride height is with that plow once you address that.

Mark...

 

[Tancruiser]

I want to see a picture of this beauty.

 

[jonheld]

Lot of snow in San Diego this time of year?

 

[dogfishlake]

I put a plow on my triple locked 40th parts truck a few years back. Was crude, but worked awesome. I think an 80 could handle a legit, light weight plow with ease!

To answer your question, just jump up a size, or put 30mn spacers in. There is a lot of hard cycling there so an older spring could be suffering from Hydrogen Embrittlement. Just a thought- but brand new springs of the height you choose could solve the broken spring issue

 

[CharlieS]

I ran a snoway lexan plow on one of my former 80 series. We chopped up a mount from another vehicle and welded it up to fit the 80. I was running the base OME Nitrocharger shocks and springs. It worked fine to do our own ~500 foot driveway. No way I'd try to use it commercially. It didn't work half as well as the F250 and fisher steel plow I got after that...

 

[lilevo]

Picked it up for $800 back in 2012 or so, I already have another FZJ80 and I had a plow from an old pickup not being used. I formerly had an FJ40 plow truck so this was my upgrade.

I only use it for my home driveway so it only gets driven maybe a half dozen times a year.

 

[lilevo]

More

 

[Rifleman]

Another option, go to a custom spring maker like Dunbar springs and talk to them about making you a custom set of springs to fit your needs,
718 W Jefferson St, Phoenix, AZ 85007-2909
(602) 258-6901
Dunbar Spring has been in business since 1919, 95 years and going! We specialize in Automotive Leaf Springs, Trailer Springs, Coil springs and U-bolts.We offer spring repair, replacement bushings, shackles, overloads, and much more. Same day service, appointments or walk-ins. We even bend U-bolts as you wait. Give us a call and see how we can help you. We also have a full machine shop for anything you might need.

 

[BuzzAZ]

I think I would try take-off stock springs, Tokico shocks, and some airbags up front. I think you’ll find that to be a huge upgrade over what you’ve had and shouldn’t break the bank.

 

[artech]

I put a set of air bags in my front coils because I put a full sized Fisher HD plow on mine in the winter. The airbags offset the weight of the plow beautifully. In the summer the plow and plow frame come off to regain my ground clearance. This is my fourth year plowing with this setup and nothing has failed yet. I'm running OME 861/862 springs at the stock height.

Post on my plow fab:

Putting a Snow Plow on an 80

Straight up- this is a long read with lots of pictures but hopefully it will help anyone looking to put a snow plow on their 80. Due to multiple factors including limited finances, a rusty 80, my old plow truck burning up last winter, and general unwillingness to enter into car payments I...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[lilevo]

I put a set of air bags in my front coils because I put a full sized Fisher HD plow on mine in the winter. The airbags offset the weight of the plow beautifully. In the summer the plow and plow frame come off to regain my ground clearance. This is my fourth year plowing with this setup and nothing has failed yet. I'm running OME 861/862 springs at the stock height.

Post on my plow fab:

Putting a Snow Plow on an 80

Straight up- this is a long read with lots of pictures but hopefully it will help anyone looking to put a snow plow on their 80. Due to multiple factors including limited finances, a rusty 80, my old plow truck burning up last winter, and general unwillingness to enter into car payments I...

forum.ih8mud.com

Link to airbags? I have rear Air Lift bags on my other 80 for towing. Can't find any front ones that would fit.

 

[CalnSam]

i would recommend a pair of ome 2861 springs in the front. they are strong springs that are still comfortable and arent much taller than stock height, but will be quite a bit taller than the 30 year old sagged stock springs youre used to. i order through slee offroad, easy. you can use the existing shocks, or use any oem size or a touch longer. any much taller spring and you will start to change the angle of your push tubes for the worser.

 

[lilevo]

I can also get brand new HDJ81 (winch option) springs for around $200 for the set. I'm curious to try those as a, "just to see" scenario.

 

[mudgudgeon]

If it truly never leaves the driveway, cut a piece of 6" pipe ( or whatever matches the spring diameter) and swap out springs for steel pipe
cut pipe to suit ride height and get rid of the springs completely. Airing down tires to 10 psi -ish will give you some suspension, and better traction.

If it is getting road driven, probably don't do this

 

[BILT4ME]

If it truly never leaves the driveway, cut a piece of 6" pipe ( or whatever matches the spring diameter) and swap out springs for steel pipe
cut pipe to suit ride height and get rid of the springs completely. Airing down tires to 10 psi -ish will give you some suspension, and better traction.

If it is getting road driven, probably don't do this

It's already sitting directly on the front bump stops.

That front spring is broken, no "starting to" about it.

Call Kurt at Cruiser Outfitters. If you have an idea how much that plow weighs, it would help.

Stock ride height HD springs or ones with a slight lift would be good.

Also should probably add some weight in the rear of that truck to keep it "balanced"

Check your trunnions because this is going to work the shyt outta those. Make sure to not only check your nuts, but maybe replace those bearings.

It's a shame that truck only has 119K on it and it's in that kind of shape.

That's a rusty crutch under there.